Comcast/NBCU strike 10-year deal 49ers, Levi’s Stadium

Comcast and NBCUniversal unveiled 10-year agreement with the San Francisco 49ers and Levi’s Stadium designed to deliver an “unmatched in-stadium fan experience.”

Comcast is leveraging Comcast Cable, Comcast Business, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, and KNTV-TV (NBC) to help power what will be one of the most technologically advanced stadiums in sports.

The 49ers will play their first NFL season at Levi’s Stadium this year. The 68,500-seat, open-air stadium, which will host Super Bowl L in 2016, will feature stadium-wide WiFi access, mobile connectivity, IPTV, and HD video boards measuring over 13,000 square feet. The stadium will also feature a ticketless, cashless infrastructure designed to increase convenience for attendees.

As part of the partnership, Comcast will provide fiber-based Ethernet Internet access and video capabilities throughout the Stadium, sponsorship of free WiFi for fans, and cloud-based voice and unified communications services for employees at the stadium and at the team’s corporate offices.

Additionally, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area will build a new, 1,000 square foot TV studio – CSN Bay Area Studios at Levi’s Stadium – for gameday broadcasts and other 49ers-related programming on CSN Bay Area and NBC Bay Area (KNTV).

RBR-TVBR observation: This is a great way to cross-promote and save money at the same time for all involved. It’s not uncommon to see MVPDs buying sponsorships with stadiums—or even naming rights—but this goes much deeper and is long-term.

Carl has been with RBR-TVBR since 1997 and is currently Managing Director/Senior Editor. Residing in Northern Virginia, he covers the business of broadcasting, advertising, programming, new media and engineering. He’s also done a great deal of interviews for the company and handles our ever-growing stable of bylined columnists.